British Women Fall Short of Sport Potential

British women will continue to be under-represented at all levels of sport from grassroots participation to decision making for years to come, according to a report published yesterday.

Research by the Women's Sports Foundation showed that only 19% of women take part in regular sport or recreational activity, compared with 24% of men. For Asian women, the figure drops to 13%. The figure compares unfavourably with the US or Australia, where nearly 50% of women participate at least three times a week.

Even with a fast-growing female sport such as football, only 1% of women participate. Fewer than a third of those serving on sports boards and committees are women, while press coverage of women's sport amounts to only 5% of the total.

Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the foundation, said the State of Play report painted an alarming picture in certain areas: "At the present rate it will still be many years before women achieve their potential in sport."

She added: "Our women athletes deserve more recognition. Nicole Cooke has a rightful claim to be the best cyclist in the world, but remains more famous on the continent than she does in her home nation ... If young girls don't see success being celebrated, then what incentive do they have to remain and succeed in their chosen sport?"

UK Sport, which published the report, has, with the Central Council for Physical Recreation and the British Olympic Foundation, developed a three-year project to equip 15 women to achieve the skills needed to take up leadership positions in sport.